A groom’s procession Seoul’s South Gate (1904)
This image shows the early stages of a traditional Korean wedding. The groom is carrying out a Korean tradition where he would process to the bride’s house on a horse. Traditional Korean marriages were arranged affairs. The bride and groom rarely saw each other before meeting at the altar, so the horseback ride must have been nerve-wracking for this groom.
While the photo is black and white, the groom was likely dressed in a traditional rich blue robe, based on the clothes worn by dynastic-era officials. His black cap is also based on these fashions. The awaiting bride would wear a red skirt covered by a short yellow jacket, resembling traditional royal style. A red robe with brightly colored striped sleeves covered the ensemble. Korean weddings were colorful affairs full of tradition and rituals, waiting at the end of this groom’s procession.
